Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Mukjess’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Mukjess’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright, outwardly arching and uniform plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; variegated leaves that are yellow green to greyed green-in color with dark green-colored venation and margins; if present, white-colored spathes are positioned above the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes; and good interiorscape performance.

Botanical designation: Spathiphyllum Schott.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MUKJESS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant, botanically known as Spathiphyllum Schott. andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Mukjess’.

The new Spathiphyllum plant is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu, India. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new Spathiphyllum plantswith unique leaf variegation patterns and good postproduction longevity.

The new Spathiphyllum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of an unnamed variegated selection of Spathiphyllum Schott.,not patented. The unnamed variegated selection (mutation parent) is awhole plant mutation of non-variegated Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘GorgusisNo. 1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,964. The new Spathiphyllumplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant fromwithin a population of plants of the mutation parent in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu, India on Sep. 21, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Spathiphyllum plant by divisions in acontrolled environment in Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu, India since Jan. 12,2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Spathiphyllum plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Mukjess’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Mukjess’ as a new and distinct Spathiphyllumplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright, outwardly arching and uniform        plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Variegated leaves that are yellow green to greyed green-in        color with dark green-colored venation and margins.    -   4. If present, white-colored spathes are positioned above the        foliar plane on strong and erect scapes.    -   5. Good interiorscape performance.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ from plants of the mutationparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more compact and        slower-growing than plants of the mutation parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are smaller than        leaves of plants of the mutation parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have variegated leaves that        are yellow green to greyed green-in color with dark        green-colored venation and margins whereas plants of the        mutation parent have variegated leaves that have large random        and irregular sectors that are white, greyed green or dark green        in color with green and white-colored midveins.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum can also be compared to plants ofSpathiphyllum Schott. ‘Domino’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,944.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ fromplants of ‘Domino’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more compact and        slower-growing than plants of ‘Domino’.    -   2. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are not freely clumping        whereas plants of ‘Domino’ are freely clumping.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are broader and        more uniform in shape than leaves of plants of ‘Domino’.    -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are not as undulate        as leaves of plants of ‘Domino’.    -   5. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have variegated leaves that        are yellow green to greyed green-in color with dark        green-colored venation and margins whereas plants of ‘Domino’        have variegated leaves with white and green-colored random and        variable sectors with green and white-colored midveins.    -   6. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum produce fewer but larger        inflorescences than of plants of ‘Domino’.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum can also be compared to plants ofSpathiphyllum Schott. ‘Spadulu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.22,599. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Spathiphyllumdiffer from plants of ‘Spadulu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more compact and        slower-growing than plants of ‘Spadulu’.    -   2. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are not freely clumping        whereas plants of ‘Spadulu’ are freely clumping.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are smaller than        leaves of plants of ‘Spadulu’.    -   4. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have variegated leaves that        are yellow green to greyed green-in color with dark        green-colored venation and margins whereas plants of ‘Spadulu’        have non-variegated leaves that are dark green in color.    -   5. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum produce fewer inflorescences        than of plants of ‘Spadulu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Spathiphyllum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Spathiphyllum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical young plant of ‘Mukjess’ grown in a container and is about 15months from planting.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a side perspective viewof a typical older plant of ‘Mukjess’ grown in a container and is about24 months from planting.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Mukjess’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late winter to mid-summerin 20-cm containers in shadehouses in Miami, Fla. and Fort Worth, Tex.and under cultural practices typical of commercial Spathiphyllumproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 16° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 22° C.Plants were two years from transplanting rooted young plants when thedetailed description was taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘Mukjess’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed    selection of Spathiphyllum Schott., not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright,            outwardly arching and uniform plant habit; overall plant            shape, broadly inverted triangle; moderately vigorous growth            habit and slow to moderate growth rate.        -   Clumping habit.—To date, plants of the new Spathiphyllum            have not been observed to be freely clumping.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane.—About 63            cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of            inflorescences.—About 92 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 89.5 cm.        -   Stem description.—Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong,            somewhat flexible. Length: About 12.5 cm. Diameter at the            base: About 2.5 cm. Internode length at the base: About            1.75 cm. Color: Darker than 147A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 35 cm. Width: About 18.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:            Acute to acuminate with short aristate tip, apex reflexed.            Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire; somewhat undulate; not lobed.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Ground color, close to            189B, 189C, 189D and N155A; midvein and lateral veins,            darker green than 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Ground color, close to NN155C and NN155D; midvein and            lateral veins, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Ground color, close to 189C, 189D, NN155C and            NN155D; midvein and lateral veins, darker green than 147A;            with development, ground color becoming closer to 154C to            154D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Ground color,            close to NN155C and NN155D; midvein and lateral veins, close            to 147B, 144A and 144C. Petioles: Length: About 26 cm.            Diameter, distally: About 8 mm by 15 mm. Diameter,            proximally, flattened: About 4.25 cm. Strength: Strong,            flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect to somewhat outwardly arching            with development. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface:            Distally, close to 147A; proximally, close to 145D. Color,            lower surface: Distally, close to 147A; proximally, close to            146A. Wing length: About 26 cm. Wing width: About 1 cm. Wing            texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Wing color, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 143B. Wing length: About 10.1 cm. Wing diameter: About            5 mm. Wing color, upper surface: Distally, close to 147A;            proximally, close to 145D. Wing color, lower surface:            Distally, close to 147A; proximally, close to 146A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement and flowering habit.—If present,            hooded spathes cupping a columnar spadix; inflorescences            held above the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes;            inflorescences axillary; spadix with sessile, simple female            and male flowers separated into two zones with female            flowers developing towards the base of the spadix and male            flowers developing distally on the spadix.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; fragrance, sweet and pleasant.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last more than three            weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length: About 20 cm. Width, flattened: About 8.5 cm.            Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, front and rear surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Front surface: Close to            NN155D; with development, color becoming closer to 144A with            random sectors, close to 157A. Rear surface: Close to            NN155D; with development, color becoming closer to 144A.        -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 8 cm. Length, female flower            zone: Close to 4 cm. Length, male flower zone: Close to            4 cm. Diameter, female flower zone: Close to 6.5 mm.            Diameter, male flower zone: Close to 6 mm. Shape: Columnar;            apex, obtuse; base, obtuse; cross-section, circular. Aspect:            Upright. Color, female and male flower zones, overall: Close            to 157A; color becoming closer to 144A to 144B with            development. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: Numerous,            about 240. Shape: Ovoid, pyramidal. Height: About 5 mm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Ovary            color: Close to 144B. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix:            Numerous, about 225. Shape: Dumbbell-shaped. Height: About            1.5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Pollen: None observed.        -   Scapes.—Length: About 54 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Strength:            Sturdy, flexible. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 147A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Spathiphyllum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Spathiphyllum    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common    to Spathiphyllum plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have been    observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 8° C. to    about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 13.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Mukjess’as illustrated and described.